Avtodor Saratov edge Capo D'Orlando in Qualification Round 3 opener
SARATOV (Basketball Champions League) - Avtodor Saratov scraped a 70-69 win over Sikeliarchivi Capo D'Orlando 70-69 in the first leg of their Basketball Champions League Qualification Round 3 tie on Friday night.
Everything remains open between @AvtodorSaratov & @OrlandinaBasket! The 🇷🇺team win by 1 point at 🏡! #BasketballCL
— #BasketballCL (@BasketballCL) September 29, 2017
📊https://t.co/OKEql9wj9g pic.twitter.com/ZLdpjnGVaC
The Russian team stormed into a 35-21 advantage midway through the second quarter but did not step on the accelerator.
Playing in Europe for the first time, the bianco-blu battled back. They went on a 9-2 run to take a 66-65 lead with Jakub Wojciechowski hitting a go-ahead 3-pointer just 2:13 from the end.
Bomba di Wojciechowski!! Sorpasso SikeliArchivi a 2' dalla fine! Capo d'Orlando conduce sul 65-66!
— Orlandina Basket (@OrlandinaBasket) September 29, 2017
Branden Frazier made one of two free-throws with 37 seconds left to edge Saratov back in front by a point with 37 seconds to go.
The return leg will be played in Italy on Monday night with the team that wins on aggregate clinching a spot in the Regular Season.
Artem Klimenko had 13 points and 9 rebounds to lead Avtodor, who hurt their own cause by sinking just 10 of 18 (55.6 percent) attempts at the free-throw line.
Justin Edwards finished with 12 points and 7 boards for the visitors. Capo D'Orlando were 9 of 21 from 3-point range with former Turkey international Engin Atsur 3 of 4.